Police Minister, commissioner travel to Walgett amid youth crime wave

After months of escalating youth violence in Walgett the NSW police minister and new police commissioner have finally travelled to the northwest NSW town to tackle the crisis.

Elizabeth Pike and Linda Silmalis

less than 2 min read

November 5, 2025 - 5:01PM

NSW Police Force Commissioner Mal Lanyon and Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley. Picture: NewsWire

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The NSW police minister and new police commissioner have travelled to Walgett to confront the regional town’s crime crisis following local calls to help the under siege community.

After weeks of reporting from The Daily Telegraph about the youth crime wave in the northwest NSW town, Police Minister Yasmin Catley and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon met with local leaders in the town on Wednesday.

It comes after Walgett Mayor Jasen Ramien and fellow local mayors flew to Sydney last week to meet with Premier Chris Minns, where they discussed opening late-night youth services and residential programs for repeat offenders.

The trip came off the back of an invitation from Walgett Council for Premier Chris Minns and Mr Lanyon to visit the town and see the crime crisis for themselves following a series of home invasions and a shocking machete attack at the local pool.

Mr Ramien told The Daily Telegraph he hoped the visit by Mr Lanyon and the police minister would be the circuit-breaker that was needed.

“We need diversionary programs so that young offenders don’t just walk out of juvie and are back in their situations within a week,” he said.

“We also need the judges to be given powers to be able to divert them.

The visit comes after a series of pleas for help from local residents and reporting by the Telegraph. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“We also don’t want money thrown at programs without any accountability of where the money is going. We want to make sure the money is going to the right place.”

Mr Lanyon and Ms Catley will visit Walgett as part of a three-day trip to Central and Far West NSW, which will include stops at Lightning Ridge, Coonabarabran, Gunnedah and Tamworth.

The Telegraph understands the pair will meet with local leaders and police in each town to discuss the youth crime scourge and policing challenges.

Mr Lanyon will also use the trip as an opportunity to introduce himself to police stations in each town after he was sworn in as the new commissioner last month.